1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Cool... will do Jas... its gonna be a busy day... gonna get a new camera... bbl

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Get three gallons of epoxy to start with.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Hey guys... I've been busy as a bee. I have ripped out the floor up to the bow area. It was total mulch.... no way to get a template. When I redo the floor I will have to create my own template, which I will gladly post results here for others.

Heres the mulch floor:

The mostly gone floor:

I have a question... Is the piece of aluminum that lays across the stringers for lateral support? Because it is very thin gauge:

Now how do I restore/fix the transom cap.... seems as if it has a crack down one side and thinning on the top (too easy for jokes here I know)

Last but not least...... I know Jas will like these photos. I will be sacrificing a glasser to appease the Starcraft gods. I bought this one almost sight unseen for $250. Im going to fix up the trailer (78' teenee) and use it (I have decided my trailer is just too small).... the PO told me the motor works... havent tried very hard just yet to get the motor running. Fig I get trailer and a potential 70hp Johnson working with TnT also..... when I get it running as a bonus.

O..BTW... I still havent gotten a new camera just yet.... so for now I will have to use my cell phone. -The pics dont seem to bad.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Nice score on the sacrificial glasser!!! There's easily more worthwhile parts there than what you paid.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Good score on the glasser, if the motor is good you are way ahead. That rotten floor looks real familar, my 18 was the same at the stern.
Glen

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

It was total mulch.... no way to get a template.

Man, you aren't joking - looks like weak mulch at that!

I have a question... Is the piece of aluminum that lays across the stringers for lateral support?

Nope, that is just to span/connect two pieces of decking.

seems as if it has a crack down one side and thinning on the top

Sounds like a personal problem.

Sorry, lacking restraint at the moment

Starcraft dealers actually carry that piece for pretty cheap. It's thin gauge so you can custom shape it (carefully).

Last but not least...... I know Jas will like these photos. I will be sacrificing a glasser

Man, good deal right there! If you can get that OB running that would turn into a ridiculous super good deal!

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Not much to add today...
I have been taking stuff off the glasser.... and its gone. I have built a motor stand for my OB. I think I did a decent job. I also want to post 1 pic of the trailer before I fix it up and paint it

I will prob be working on the trailer and getting the motor running in the next few days. Would rustoleum work on the trailer? and any ideas on what color I should choose? Im thinking on keeping it neutral like black or white.... cause I am unsure what color I plan on painting the SS just yet.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Nice work on the motor stand. That's a GREAT trailer!! It's very similar to one I had under my Jupiter when I bought it and the one I now have for my SS. That will clean up nice. I recommend white or gray. Personal preference but black doesn't look as nice and it tough to see underwater when lining things up. Black trailers always look suspect to me when I'm looking at boats on CL for some reason.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

I always do the boat and trailer the same color. And Yes Rustoleum will work for the trailer. It is made for metal, and to help keep it from rusting.

 

[losdinspace]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Hey guys... I've been busy as a bee. I have ripped out the floor up to the bow area. It was total mulch.... no way to get a template. When I redo the floor I will have to create my own template, which I will gladly post results here for others.

I have a set of decent originals. I just used them tonight as templates. I could get you measurements. The stern section was 61 1/4" cut at a 45 degree on the outside edge. Moving forward the taper down. The bow piece was the hardest to do because of the relief cuts for the ribbing.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Some progress today or..it should not be called "pro"gress in my case maybe somthing like "amateur"gress . Anyway, did some more work on the trailer... and finally got to the boat today. The sun came out finally... after like 5 days of rain. So out came the rest of the floors, panels and bow structure area.. LOL the only dry wood on the boat was in the very front bow area:

I started thinking about how to resuse my old fold-seats since I think I will go pedestal like a lot of you guys have mentioned:

I figured I would break them down and use them on each side of the boat as rear jump seats! why not right. I will have to build boxes for them to sit on after the floor is in... here is a pic of a very early stage/rough idea. Whatcha think of salvaging the old seats. (Im starting to get low on some funds.... time to think a lil differently )

The seats are in decent shape its just wet leaves I hadnt cleaned off for the pics.

(another post to follow)

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

(follow up)

A -----score... Im gonna use the noodle + foam floatation idea. Sorry Jas... I dont think I will have enough laundry or soda bottles I just went into a local DG to check to see if they had any... and the lady said the truck just came with them this morning....

Here is a pic of her starting to get clean. I think this is a little after the time I had a near panic attack.. thinking.. will I remember how to get it all back together

One question the boat came with a poor excuse for a bimini top. Whats the best cleaner to get the top to sparkle again. Elbow grease is one how about another.

Im tired... did a lotta work today. Back to the salt mines tomorrow.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

I love that photo of the giant box O' Wacky Noodles with the $1 sticker on em, just beautiful!

Yah, trying to stuff soap bottles sub deck in that little boat would just frustrate ya buddy.

Awesome man!!

 

[heyyou325]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

You're doing great man. Seemed to take me forever to get to where you are. After I finished the cleanup the sealing went pretty quick tho. I also went to combo route with the foam, takes more than I thought. To do a 21 ft boat took me 56 noodles in the decking, + just over 2 2" 4X8 Styrofoam. Plus I'm going to put some in my sides I think, I figure I'll use 62 noodles and 2 1/2 of the sheets. Not sure what to use on the top. I'll probably need that info soon to tho. I'm hoping to get a custom top sewn for mine. The guy's fabric was supposed to be in this weekend for us to go see, but her hasn't called us yet. I need the fabric for my side panels too. Always somethin. Well good luck

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

I finished scrubbing the hull today... I have become very intimate with every square inch of the hull . I pressure washed the floor and then went over the whole thing with a scrub brush and scotch-bright pad (my forearms are screaming right about now). It seems as if the aluminum is clean except for a few spots of light rust (as can be seen on the very bottom on the hull)? I have read other resto that wire wheel the hull. I dont think I will wheel the whole hull ...prob only the tarnished spots.

Bow area:

Stern area:

I plan on cleaning out the limber holes tomorrow... they seem to be pretty clean as water flows well through them already. I would rather take some extra time now... then wonder later Anything else I might do while the floor is open? I also plan on finishing the trailer paint job tomorrow as the boat will be too wet to do anything else for a day or 2.

PS >>> update... forgot to mention I almost had a stroke... while driving home today.. I saw a Islander (mid-70's) sitting in *almost* the weeds. I was thinking about knocking on the door and asking if he would like to sell it (or is that too forward)

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

forgot to mention I almost had a stroke... while driving home today.. I saw a Islander (mid-70's) sitting in *almost* the weeds. I was thinking about knocking on the door and asking if he would like to sell it (or is that too forward)

Do it, the worst he can say is no. The best is that you can get it for dirt cheap. I would do it if I were you, I have done such things when I was looking for something else and for the most part people are very nice about such things.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

Anything else I might do while the floor is open?

You guys that are really taking the time to clean up your hulls so well.....should really pull the transom now and clean up behind where the wood was. There's most likely considerable mess in there so you may as well tackle it now without messing things up after you start building.

 

[Jayb123]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

You guys that are really taking the time to clean up your hulls so well.....should really pull the transom now and clean up behind where the wood was. There's most likely considerable mess in there so you may as well tackle it now without messing things up after you start building.

Great thinking EZ.. yes I will do that tomorrow so I can clean inside the transom also .... glad I asked..I would have been kicking myself If i started putting the flooring back in and realized the transom was a total mess :facepalm:

Im reading your 18' resto as we speak for ideas EZ
O that reminds me.. you painted yours with easypoxy? can I save a few $ and bottom paint with rusto and top-paint with easyposy where I may only need a quart - for the color choices?

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

If that top is the old stiff Vinyl I doubt it will fit. Try it before you spend to much time on it. I cleaned mine with green cleaner then power washed it. run it thru your wifes Dryer on low heat for a while it will soften it up, mabey enough to get the snaps to firt

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Starcraft 16' SS (Restoration)

O that reminds me.. you painted yours with easypoxy? can I save a few $ and bottom paint with rusto and top-paint with easyposy where I may only need a quart - for the color choices?

Better yet, Don't use Easypoxy anywhere would be my recommendation. Stuff sucks. Go with Rusto or step up to a two part paint. Don't mess with the in-between stuff.